The Boston Red Sox have an intriguing camp competition for the final rotation spot.
Boston has four rotation spots spoken for in Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, and Brayan Bello. Yet, the fifth spot in the rotation is very much in the air with the likes of Johan Oviedo, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, and Kutter Crawford competing for the final rotation spot.
As the Red Sox have begun spring training, Tolle is comparing it to his time in college when everyone was competing for the Friday night start.
"It almost goes back to college,” Tolle said, via MLB.com. “And obviously that wasn't too long ago for me,” said Tolle. “Everybody was fighting for that Friday night rotation spot and it kind of takes you back to that. I'm excited about it. I'm just thrilled to be a part of it.”
With Tolle competing for a spot in the rotation, he put in plenty of work this offseason. The left-hander used time to help develop his offspeed pitches, which he believes is a key to his success
“It was a process,” Tolle said of his offseason. “Changeups, curveballs, adding the sinker in there. Trying to prioritize those and really hammer in having things that are going to protect the fastball.
"So that's going to be the big thing this year, and trying to execute those along with executing the fastballs where I need to execute them. I'm excited where I'm at with stuff. Obviously, you can keep getting better.”
Tolle went 0-1 with a 6.07 ERA in seven games, including three starts last season with the Red Sox.
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